While the larger stables of Maher and Waller were the main focus on the Caulfield Sunday card, no victory resonated more profoundly than Lucy Yeomans’ win with Changing Colours in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes.
For Yeomans, who previously saw big race wins as a regular occurrence while working for Ciaron Maher, achieving a Group 2 success under her own banner was an extraordinary feat. Changing Colours ($3.80) transformed from a consistent benchmark performer into a stakes winner.
This 1600-metre feature, contested by four-year-old mares and above, marked the most significant moment in Yeomans’ fledgling training career.
“It’s incredible,” Yeomans exclaimed. “These are the things you dream about and we get out of bed for this horse.
“She’s the one that is keeping the team alive at the moment as we’ve got all unraced horses. To have her as leading the way is really special.
“Group Two-winning trainer, sounds quite nice, doesn’t it? Full credit to the team at home. We’re a small team but we’re all good mates and we work really hard.”
The win was a special moment for Yeomans’ partner, jockey Blake Shinn, even with his impressive record of 34 Group 1 wins.
“This is all about Lucy and forging her own business as a trainer,” Shinn stated.
“To get her first Group 2 win on the board here is really special and we just have to thank the ownership group.
“To pull this win off today is like winning a Group 1 for us, honestly. We got her as a 73-rater and now we’ve taken her to a Group 2 Stocks Stakes. Just shows how good a trainer Lucy is and is going to be. I’m just so proud of her and the horse and the team.
“It is very, very special.”
“To win a race like this with Blake aboard, he rode our first winner and now he’s ridden our first Group winner,” Yeomans added.
Changing Colours defeated the favourite Sass Appeal ($2.15) by a length, with Too Darn Discreet ($5.50) a further 1¼ lengths back in third.
While Shinn is confident about aiming the six-year-old mare towards the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10, Yeomans remains more reserved about her immediate plans, considering a spell or another run, with the Magic Millions features in January also a possibility.
Since transferring to Yeomans from Chris Waller’s stable in May, Changing Colours has been in outstanding form, securing four wins from five starts.
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